Pothole Repair App of PWD Goa : 2 Weeks since launch, Goans want to know the present status?

The mobile phone application for reporting "Potholes" across Goa, was launched with great fanfare by Union Minister for Roads & Surface Transport Mr. Nitin Gadkari on 29th of December 2022.

This app had been in progress for almost 2 years, before it was launched.

And now, almost after 2 Weeks, the PWD Department of Goa State Government, has yet to release, on the status of project.

a) How many citizens used the app?

b) How many Potholes repaired?

c) What is the average Turn-Around-Time for complaints resolution, against the promise made?

In fact, the “Pothole Repair App” is absent on the PWD Department’s website; when in fact, it should have been on the main page.

So far it seems like, another one of those Citizen initiatives, which is talked a lot, announced with great pomp-and-show as the next revolutionary step in citizen grievance redressal; but seems to falling flat in the pothole.

The State Government of Goa seems to be suffering from both short-term and long-term memory loss, as most of the schemes launched by them, like the esteemed "Swayampurna Goa Yojana" seem rudderless, with no accountability attached to it.

Initiatives for citizen's grievance redressal need a robust information dissemination and feedback loop, not only to make them better and more efficient, but even just to make them successful.

And this is the concerned department's job of the Goa Government, to ensure that this is done. The PWD Department Of Goa, clearly seems to be lacking this common-sense.

For the scheme to function properly 2 JetPatcher machines also were acquired by PWD Department, one each for North and South Goa. The company claims to have sold 650 machines world-wide, including the 2 in Goa.

Each machine costs Rs.18 Lac and needless to say, has been paid by Citizens, directly or indirectly.

If the scheme is not monitored properly and citizens are urged to use the app, the investment made in the machines acquired, would go as a material waste.

To install and reinstate the credibility of the State Government, when it is at its ebb, it is a very good idea to keep the citizens informed about the progress of new schemes launched for them, urge them to take advantage; and PWD Goa could take a lead in it.